What is Shri Rama Navami?
by Aadya Bommineni, Ardhana Praveen, and Shriya Shaji
In this section, you will learn about the origin of Shri Rama Navami, and the significance in Hindu culture. We are excited to feature artist Sneha Sankar, who shares her story inspired by Rama Navami!
Introduction
Rama Navami is the illustrious celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver. Lord Rama is the son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, the oldest of the king’s three wives, in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Though Rama is a god, he came in a human form to teach humanity the importance of morality and virtue, the plight of good over evil, and the importance of dharma, which is Sanskrit for duty.
Story
The story begins with King Dasharatha and his three wives struggling to have children. Fearing that he would have no heir or child, the king sought out Sage Vashishta for advice. The sage proclaimed that King Dasharatha and his wives should have a pooja, a form of worship, conducted to invoke the gods' blessings for an offspring. After the pooja, King Dasharatha was given a plate of payasam, an Indian sweet made with rice and milk, and told to save it for the wives. He gave Kausalya and Kaikeyi half each, while Sumitra's youngest wife received none. Then, Kaikeyi and Kausalya each gave half of their payasam. This resulted in Kausalya and Kaikeyi having one son each and Sumitra having twins. Lord Rama was born on the ninth and final day of Chaitra - Navaratri, enkindling immense joy in Ayodhya.
Student Story: Sneha’s Rama Navami Traditions
“Rama Navami (राम नवमी) is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, revered for his righteousness and virtue. The festival falls on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra (March–April), the last month of the Hindu calendar. In 2025, Rama Navami was celebrated on April 6. At our home, we follow traditional practices taught by our grandmother. After a head shower, we perform a pooja for Lord Rama. My mom creates colorful rangoli (also known as kolam, they are designs made with intricate patterns of dots and loops) designs at our entrance and puja room (prayer room) to welcome the gods. Then, we prepare prasadam (special offerings) for the deity. Every year, our neighbor, Tina aunty visits, performing kanya puja (a ritual performed to seek blessings from Goddess Durga) for me and my sisters, offering us prasadam, bangles, and goodies.”
By Sneha Sankar
Skyview Middle School
7th Grade
Connections and Celebrations
Lord Rama is recognized for being the central figure of the Ramayana, an epic written about the story of his 14-year-long exile and his journey of rescuing his wife Sita, accompanied by his brother Lakshaman, son of Sumitra. Rama Navami is celebrated through praying at an altar or temple, fasting, reading the Ramayana, chanting, and making a drink called Panakam, made from jaggery, cardamom, and lemon juice, which is believed to be Lord Rama’s favorite drink. Rama Navami is the day we worship Lord Rama honoring his birth and the lessons he taught during his time on Earth.
